Mousetrap



APPLICATION FILED JAN 2,1919

J. R. CARSON.

MOUSETRAP.

Patented June 1, 1920.

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UNITED empr ss JESSE R. CARSON, OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS.

MOUSETRAP.

Application filed. January 2, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Jesse R. CAnsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lawrence, in the county of Douglas, State of Kansas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mousetraps; and 1 dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in traps andparticularly to traps for catching mice and rats.

One object of the present invention is to improve the construction oftraps of this character wherein the setting of the same is rendered moreeasy and safe by obviating the necessity of grasping the trip.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved trap of this characterwherein the tri is more easily disengaged by the animal.

ther objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

- In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the trap in sprung position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the trap in set position.

Fig. 3 is an end view looking toward the tri Fteferring particularly tothe accompanying drawing, 10 represents the base of the trap which ispreferably in the form of a V rectangular board of suitable dimensions.Pivotally mounted on the upper face of the board is a yoke-shaped wirejaw '11. Secured to the board and extending between the pivoted ends ofthe arms of the yoke, is a strong coil spring 12, the ends beingconnected respectively to the board and to one of the arms of the yokefor the purpose of normally swinging the yoke toward one end of theboard and against the upper face thereof. Pivotally mounted centrally onthe upper face of the board, and at one end, is

' a trip plate 13 having a vertically extending integral portion 14, thepurpose of which will presently appear. Centrally on the upper face ofthe board, and at the other end thereof, is a vertical yoke member 15,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1920.

Serial No. 269,207.

and pivotally suspended on the transverse portion of said yoke is theintermediate portion of the detent 16. The upper end of this detent 16is formed with a notch 17 for receiving the transverse portion of thejaw when said jaw is swung over into set position. Pivotally connectedat one end to the vertical portion 14 of the trip plate, and at theother end to the lower end of the detent 16, is a link 18. Alsoconnected at one end to the lower end of the detent 16 is one end of acoil spring 19, the other end of said spring being connected to theboard adjacent the end thereof. This spring 19 normally holdsthe detentin such position that when the jaw is swung o-ver toward its setposition the transverse portion thereof will automatically engage in thenotch of the detent without the necessity of manipulating said member,as is usually done in traps of this character heretofore.

To set the trap it is only necessary to swing the jaw over until itengages with the detent. Thus one hand holds the base board while theother hand moves the jaw.

The bait is placed on the vertical portion of the trip plate 13 so thatwhen the animal attempts to eat or remove the bait the plate will berocked with the result that the link will rock the detent and releasethe jaw. When the animal is removed from the trap the spring 19 willrestore the detent to its normal position ready to be engaged by thejaw.

What is claimed is:v

'1. An animal trap including a, base, a spring urged jaw mounted onthebase, a trip member mounted on one end of the base, a detentmounted'von the other end of j the base and engageable with the jaw,means loosely connecting the trip member and the detent for movingthedetent to release the jaw, and resilient means between the detent andthe base for normally holding the detent in position to automaticallyengage with the jaw when the jaw is moved into set position.

2. An animal trap including a base, a jaw mounted on the base, a springfor urging the jaw in one direction, a support mounted at one end of thebase, a pivoted detent mounted on the support and engageable with thejaw to hold the latter in set posi-,,

tion, a trip member mounted adjacent the Q other end of the base, a linkconnected to In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in the presenceof two wltnesses.

JESSE R. CARSON.

Witnesses: I

FERNE FLORA, ESTELLE NORTHRUP.

